19-year-old Saudi dies of MERS

Two of deceased's sisters in hospital; Total death toll now 63

By

Wam

PublishedSaturday, March 15, 2014

A 19-year-old Saudi citizen died of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), bringing the total number of deaths in the kingdom to 63 out of 152 laboratory-confirmed cases since September 2012, the country’s Ministry of Health Ministry said on its website.

The Health Ministry said Friday the latest victim, a 19-year-old, died in the city of al-Kharj, southeast of Riyadh. Two of his sisters are in hospital on suspicion they have been infected with the virus.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that includes viruses that may cause a range of illnesses in humans, from the common cold to SARS. Viruses of this family also cause a number of animal diseases.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) This particular strain of coronavirus has not been previously identified in humans. There is very limited information on transmission, severity and clinical impact with only a small number of cases reported thus far.